Time measuring indicator



July 27, 1943. Q FQ NDER 2,325,312

TIME MEASURING INDICATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1940 INVENTOR. Orro FOLLENDEE. BY %maf ATTORNEY.

Patented July 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a l a 2,325,312

TIME MEASURING INDICATOR I ottoFoll'endergEast Islip, N. Y. 1 Application December 5, 1940, Serial No. 368,579

r I screams. (01. 161-15) This inventionrelates generally to time measuring indicators and more particularly to indicato'rs for measuring the running time of vehicles and the like. I

I It is an object-of the present invention to provide a very simple, practical, economical and eflicient indicator for registering the time in which the engine of the vehicle is in operation. The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with registering or indicating the total ll'yin'g time of aircraft, that is, in recording the time "periods of operation-of the vehicle.

V It is another-object of the present invention to provide anindicato'r of the above ment'ioned type with a clockwork mechanism and associated mechanism co'ntrolling'the balance wheel of the clockwork mechanism by brake-action on the periphery of the flywheel.

It is yet another object of the present invention tbfp'rovide a time period indicator having it clbckwork mechanism with control means fafiapted to apply against the periphery of the balance wheel of the clockwork mechanism for stopping the same or for giving the same an impetus for putting said mechanism in operation.

' it i'sa still further object of the presentinvem tion to provide a running-time indicator for vehicles which is resettable to zero and'whic'h is provided with a, clockwork mechanism controlled, by positive action on the periphery of balance wheel to function the indicator at initial starting time and to continue the time measurement for the periodlthe vehicle is in use and to then automatically'make inoperativethe indicator at the end of saidperiod.

Another object of the presentinvention resides in the provision of leveragecontrol means to start and stop the clockwork mechanism of a running-time indicator'for vehicles, the said control means acting uponthe periphery of the balance wheel, being made operative'by the actuation ofa tubular member influenced by pressure and the like.

A stillfurther object of the present invention is to provide a control means for the balance wheel of clockwork mechanism capable of stopping the balance wheel by engaging the periphery thereof and giving'the balance wheel a positive start by pushing action against'the same before freeing itself from the periphery of the balance wheel to facilitate the starting of the latter in motion. I And still another object ofthe present invention resides in providing locking means to prevent surreptitious resetting of the indicator.

' With the aforesaid and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts'herein'after more particularly described, pointed out in the subjoined claims,' and'i1lustrated in the annexed drawing, "wherein like partsare designated by the same reference characters or numerals throughout several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an indicator made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the front including the clockwork portion of the said device;

Fig.4 is a rear view illustrating the actuating means for the balance wh'eel control of the said device including a conventional pressure recording gauge.

Fig. 5 isa diagrammatic view showing the disengaging position of the balance wheel control;

Fig; 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the engaging position of the balance wheel control; and

Fig; 7 shows the actuating means for the balance wheel control in a modified form; and

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the invention in a modified form.

In the drawing which discloses one example by which the invention may be realized, there is shown housing 19 having an annular flange H for attaching the indicator l2 through holes it to the instrument board or other suitable member of the vehicle or other apparatus whose period of running time is to be measured.

The rear wall M of housing H) has an opening through which projects a threaded tube or nipple l5 for connection with a source of pressure supply which may be the exhaust or oil system of the vehicle, or for connection with any point of differentiation of pressure which would cause reaction in a pressure sensitive instrument such as for example, a Bourdon tube IG. Nipple forms part of a base member I! which abuts against the rear wall 54 of housing it], member I! having an i to which is secured one end 19 of tube 13. Member I! including its arm it has a passage (not shown but conventional) providing communication between the opening in nipple i5 and the inside of the tube It. It is evident that an increase in pressure within tube it will cause the latter to end to straighten itself and upon the removal of such increase in pressure the said tube will return to its normal stable condition.

Secured to base member I! is a frame 20 in which rotatably mounted a pinion 2| fixed to a shaft 22 projecting from the element 23 of frame 728. Secured to the projecting end'of shaft 22 is an arm 24 bent to provide a space 25 between portions thereof. One end of a spring 25 is fixed to frame 20 and the other end thereof is fixed to pinion 2| whereby to return arm 24 to its originalpositicn for a purpose later on described. Pivotally' or rotatably mounted in frame Ellis a toothed segment 21 having its teeth constantly in mesh with the teeth of pinion 2l', a stcp'28 being provided'on frame 23' against which segment 21 will abut to limit its movetension: i.

arm 24 is caused to be moved in the opposite direction as will be understood'hereafter. Segment 21 has anextension =29 to which ispivotally connected at 36 one end of a link 3!, the other L nq end or link 3! being pivotally connected at :7:-

to the free end of tube it. In the embodiment.

of the invention disclosed in the drawing, inabreaking. contact with the periphery of balance '24 is in one rotative position for oneystage; of I;

- operation of the indicator and may he. impelled into another rotative position (against'the action of spring 26) through link .filysegment pinion 21 by an increase of tube it.

A case 3:5 has a ring portion 35 and an annular flange portion 3'! the. io-rmer'being in tighttfitting engagement withhousing it and: the latter-ahut pressure flow within ting against the flange ll of l iousiizigw til, when theoase; and housing: are in assembled-condition.

Wit in case 35:- is=-a con zentional clockwork mechanism- .33 having. the, conventional balance wheeltli, to plate tilof the clockwork mechanism. is-a bracket 43' which is fiularlimmed at a le 44, 4'5. Arm 4% has a b portion made of finer-wire or other thinyltensile material adapted for engagement with the. periphery of balance Wheelwhen: the letter, lifiaisrotated about its pivot A2: in; one-direction to stop the operation of the balance wheel 39 and which is disengageable. fromthe latter rotation of the lever 43 in an opposite direction. ,lntdisengaging from the balance" wheel.- tfl arm portion 45 willgive the latter a slight push or impetus; assuring: that the balance-wheel will be set in motion again upon. its release from engagement with armiporrtion it.

Arm 45' of lever-. 1 3: has a bent portion l"! projeoting. within space'fib. of bent arm 24.

Secured tocase is the face or dial 43 of the watch. or clock over which is disposed: the transparent plate 555; The dial 4% has a plur-ality of--markingsdl representing. divisions of a twelve hourperiod or other suitable period of time: The hands 4%, Eli rotatable over the dial 63: by theoloclrwor'l'r mechanism,. may be con- 'ventional.v Pro-jectingfrom case 35-is a tubular extension bilthrou h which-extends an elongated spring-winding and;time -setting stem 52 having" a knurled finger grip 53. The winding and setting is performed: a conventional manner.

To prevent the indicator from being tampered with inrespect to its stem-winding. and timelt havingw two arms ltand the latter in assuming. its normal condition will rotate segment 2 and through it pinion 2| in the opposite direction, being assisted for this purpose by spring 26. Thus the levers 24 and 43 will be actuated and cause portion 46 to be again scribeda ourvedtube It has been employed, which by its expansion and retraction will operate pinion 21 which in turn will swing forked arm 24, thereby either-starting. or stopping thebalance wheel. Althoughthe employment of this tube is preferable, it is understood that the same may besubstituted by any other practical means capable. of performing the. function oi: causing. engagement and disengagementofa lever arm with the periphery ofthe balancewheel. p

to. the: embodiment of Fig. 8-; bracket 43] has. an arm. 45" vfnl'crummed at 4 2 withits bentport'ion 44' adjacent the perimeter oil balance wheel: 391.. A stop 63 serves asrthe limits to-movement ini ei'ther direction offal-m. 45' Pin 47' holds. one endfil' of a spring so whiohist fastened beyond) point 42 to a pin. 62. on bracket 4t. Spring 60' should. be in :HnerpOSfiiOILW-ith arm 45 when 45'" is midway between stop and runposition. This will. serve to-dtaw lever arm: 45' either one way or the other dependingupon which; way lever arm (Figs. 5, 6) i'smhvedthemovement arm, 44" indicating. the bent-portion of arm-".

Y Caseltli'liasithe ring. portioniili';

settingoperations,-. there preferably provided a= loci; having its bolt portion projecting through the: holes ofthestem 521 and Assume-thatthe indicator is employed to record thefly-ing time-of" an: aircraft. B y/means of stem 52- the clockwork mechanism is set to the time of take-off. The tube It being innormalsconditionj; spring 26 holds arm .24 and-consequently arm 4.5 of lever. 45' in such position that arm i l, 4'6

of lever 43: is in engagement with. the periphery of: balance wheel 39' and exerts. a break action thereoni. Assoontas; the aircraft engine is put inoperation pressure will flow into curved tube lrfi tending; to straighten-it. Indoing so, segment 2''! will rotatefcausing pinion 2 i and shaft 22 and consequenifly arm. Ettorotate therewith, Lever 43 will-rotateaboutits pivot. 42 not-only disenbalancewheel 39; but also giving the lattera balance wheeliwill be putiin-motion-r The recordgaging arm portion {55 from the periphery of Althouglii thedrawing andthe alibi E; specificatib'n. disclose the bestmodein Wh'iohftheinven- .tionis at present contemplated. andlembodied it is-desired; that the inventioniinno wayblimited to thedetail's ofsuohdi'sclesure forinthe fnrther pr'aotical application of theinventi'onl many change's'in the. forms and; proportionsima-y be made; as circumstances. require orv experienoesuggests; without departing. from the. spirit of}v the invention .within- "the scope. of the. appended 01mins; r

Having thus described the invention,. what is Letters Patentvis:

. 1f. Arunni'ng-time. indicator: comprising. clockwork mechanism, and means to startand stop saidj mechanism {by action upon the periphery of the balance-.wheelletsaidi' mechanism, said .means comprising a pressure-actuated membenarot'atabletoothed element, means connecting said elementiwithisaid-member, arotatable toothed member. e aging. said element,l an. arm fixed tolsaid claimed'flas, new. and desired to be seoured by toothed member, .andfalever movable'by said am andj'engageable. with saidbal'ancewheel.

2. running-time. indicator comprising clockwork mechanism, andf'nie'ans to'start and stop saidmechanism by actionuponthe periphery of the balance wheel ofsai'd mechanism, saiol means comprising. apressure-actuatedmember, a rotatable toothed, element, means. connecting saidelement with .saidmembena rotatable toothed member. engaging; said. element,- an arm fixed to: said toothed member, a lever movable. by saidarmand engageable. with. saidzbalan ce wheel andresilient means: for normally; maintainingsaid lever againstthe periphery of said balance-iwheeli.

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